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Notes:
Jim France began in 1993, when after viewing a customers collection, finally bought a cymbidium. As he tells many a beginner, everyone kills at least one … and so it was promptly drowned. As it happened an orchid show was the following week, and the passion began. He began by being part of an Orchid Society and learned from the experts in the group and from many of the wonderful growers that became friends. Fueled by his interest, Jim began selling in 1996, and established Oakwood Orchids. He dabbled in hybridization, and enjoyed the things that were more different than the normal orchids found easily. Jim has grown under lights for 23 years, and finally with the collection and business growing, two medium greenhouses are part of the business. Jim is past treasurer & president of the Miami Valley Orchid Society; past board member of MAOC shows, and is currently part of the AOS Orchid Judging program. The first orchid awarded was Catestum Hilltop’s Dingbat ‘ Junior', a catasetum, named after his grandson. One of his favorites, and a favorite presentation, the catesetums, are a part of his collections and received 2 additional awards … Catesetum piletum ‘ Leeann', and more recently Catesetum osculatum 'The Boys'. Enjoying a variety of orchids, another early award was for Phragmipedium Sergeant Eric “Hans’, and spurred another part of the collection. He has received a total of 13 AOS awards Currently Oakwood Orchids specializes in species and harder to find orchids.